The Jordan Trail

The
Jordan Trail is a long distance hiking trail in Jordan connecting the length of
Jordan from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south.Offering 40 days of
hiking over more than 650 kilometers of trail, and travelling through 52
villages and towns on its way. The trail traverses the diverse landscapes and
vistas of the country, from the rolling wooded hills of the north, the rugged
wadis and cliffs overlooking the Jordan Rift Valley, the rose rock of Petra,
the dramatic sands and towering mountains in Wadi Rum, to the crystal waters of
the Red Sea.

As
you walk the Jordan Trail, it becomes a journey through the history of Jordan
and an encounter with its diverse culture. Travelling the length of the country
enables a chance to peel through the different layers of culture, to taste the
varied cuisines of Jordan, encounter locals while walking and spending your
nights in their home-stays. It is also an opportunity to learn the history of
Jordan, the different civilizations who have made their marks on the land. The
trail moves through major historical sites in the region such as Um Qais,
Jerash, and Petra, while also harboring hidden ruins resting amongst the land.

How did the Jordan Trail come to be?

The
concept of a trail crossing Jordan’s countryside is not a new one. For
thousands of years, ancient paths and trade routes have cut across the land
that today constitutes the state of Jordan. Jordan was the center of the
King’s Highway, a trade route stretching from Egypt to Aqaba, and then north to
Damascus. This route was used by Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites, but during
the first centuries B.C. the Nabatean merchants extended this route further to
Asia and southern Arabia making Jordan a center of their empire, with Petra the
crown jewel amongst this. After the Nabatean reign, the Roman Empire continued
to utilize these routes as critical pieces of its Middle Eastern network of
roads.

And
no pressure added, if you want you can join for a day or two or how long that
you want to join, as long as you enjoy it as much as you can. And of course
with Discover Jordan being a part of it.

And
let’s not forget that our beloved queen of Jordan Her Royal Majesty Queen Rania
Al Abdullah had also joined the trail many times and rather enjoyed it.